Hoya carnosa 'Silver Lady'

🌿 The Hoya carnosa 'Silver Lady' is a stunning cultivar of the classic wax plant, beloved for its silvery-grey foliage splashed with green variegation. Native to Eastern Asia and Australia, Hoya carnosa belongs to the Apocynaceae family and has been a staple in indoor plant collections for generations. This variety thrives as a trailing or climbing vine, making it versatile for hanging baskets or trained up a trellis. Considered beginner-friendly, it forgives occasional neglect and rewards patient growers with clusters of fragrant, star-shaped flowers. Here's a fun fact: Hoya flowers produce nectar that can drip from the blooms, sometimes leaving sweet, sticky droplets below.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This Hoya grows as a vining plant with semi-succulent stems that can trail gracefully or climb when given support. The leaves are thick, waxy, and oval-shaped, displaying a beautiful mix of silvery-grey tones with irregular green splashes and speckles. Each leaf has a smooth, almost rubbery texture that feels substantial to the touch, and the variegation pattern is unique on every leaf, giving the plant an ever-changing appearance as it matures.
FLOWER DETAILS
The flowers of 'Silver Lady' appear in rounded clusters called umbels, each bloom resembling a tiny, waxy star. They range from pale pink to white with deep pink or red centres, and emit a sweet, honeyed fragrance that intensifies in the evening. The blooms have an almost porcelain-like quality and can last for weeks once they appear. Flowering typically occurs in spring and summer, though mature plants may bloom multiple times per year. To encourage blooming, provide bright indirect light, allow the plant to become slightly rootbound, and avoid cutting off the flower spurs (peduncles) after blooms fade, as new flowers emerge from the same spots year after year.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light for 6-8 hours daily. Can tolerate some morning sun, but avoid harsh afternoon rays that may scorch the leaves.
💧 Water: Water when the top half of soil feels dry, usually every 1-2 weeks in growing season, less in winter. Water thoroughly until it drains, then empty the saucer. Bottom watering works well to avoid wetting the leaves.
🌡️ Humidity: Adaptable to average home humidity of 40-60%, though it appreciates occasional misting or a pebble tray during dry months.
🪴 Soil: Well-draining mix is essential. Use a blend of potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark to prevent waterlogging.
🏺 Potting: Prefers to be slightly rootbound. Use a pot with drainage holes, about 1-2 inches larger than the root ball. Terracotta works well. Repot every 2-3 years or when roots emerge from drainage holes.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate to slow. Expect 6-12 inches of growth in the first year. Mature vines can reach 3-6 feet or longer over several years.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly during spring and summer with diluted liquid fertilizer at half strength. Reduce to every 6-8 weeks in fall and winter.
🐾 Pet friendly: Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, though ingestion may cause mild stomach upset. The sap can occasionally cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
WHERE TO PUT IT
The 'Silver Lady' shines in bright, east-facing or north-facing windows where it receives gentle, filtered light throughout the day. It looks gorgeous in a hanging planter in a living room, cascading from a shelf in a home office, or trained up a small trellis near a bedroom window. Bathrooms with good natural light also work well due to the humidity. Avoid placing it in dark corners, near heating vents, or in direct, hot afternoon sun from south or west windows, as these conditions can stress the plant and reduce flowering potential.